Trump: ‘We’re not playing politics’ with storm relief

(National Sentinel) Presidential: Now is not the time to “play politics,” but rather do what’s right for the American people during their hour of need.

That’s what President Donald J. Trump told reporters at Camp David on Saturday, as victims of Hurricane Harvey continue to struggle in Texas and as a new superstorm, Hurricane Irma, bore down on Florida.

“We’re not playing politics, we’re just doing what’s right,” Trump said following a meeting with his Cabinet. “I tell that to everybody at this table, do what’s right, don’t play politics.”

Trump, flanked by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis, urged Americans in the path of Irma to evacuate.

“This is a storm of enormous destructive power and I ask everyone in the storm path to heed all instructions, get out of its way,” Trump said, also thanking government officials at all levels for working “around the clock” to protect life and property.

“Property is replaceable but lives are not and safety has to come first, don’t worry about it, just get out of its way,” he said.

This is Trump’s second meeting with his Cabinet at Camp David. Following the first meeting, he delivered a major policy speech on the way ahead in Afghanistan.

The president earlier made a push for tax reform to include lowering the corporate tax rate from 39 percent — the highest in the industrialized world — to 15 percent. He said of tax reform: “I think now with what’s happened with the hurricane, I’m going to ask for it to speed up.”